One week notice to relocate leaves Gicumbi residents in grave distress

{Residents of Rugarama village, Nyarutarama cell of Byumba sector in Gicumbi district have expressed frustrations over a one-week notice given them to relocate from where they live to create room for a company, CHICO, that is building Base-Rukomo-Nyagatare road. It will construct its headquarters there during the construction.}

Residents say that it is of great value to have the road built but lamented short notice given.

“We are not against development activities but they have to empathize with us. They informed us about the relocation on March 22nd 2016. Our crops are not ready for harvesting. Where do they want to relocate us?” lamented one resident who talked to IGIHE.

Mugenzi, another resident said; “They have told us that that they will compensate us with Rwf 1200 per square meter. We refused the amount and they kept increasing the amount till Rwf 2000 which we also declined. Later they told us that they will raise compensation to Rwf3250, threatening whoever declines the amount with obstructing establishment of a public good,” he said.

Citizens say that they later accepted to sign the Rwf 3250 proposed amount but worried since CHICO has started construction activities without getting their compensation. Local leaders told them that they will be paid later which the affected people are suspicious as a way of hoodwinking them.

The land notary and head of infrastructure department in Gicumbo district, Emmanuel Sinumvankabo, who followed up the case, said that they asked residents to relocate following a directive from Rwanda Transport Development Authority (RTDA).

“We started informing residents about the relocation on March 22nd, 2016 as a request from RTDA. The law promulgates that the government has in its responsibilities to seek a land on which a company winning a tender of road construction has to build its temporary offices,” he said.

Sinumvankabo said that they will keep advocating for citizens to get their compensation. A total of 28 households are set to be relocated from 3 hectares at a cost of Rwf 130,000,000.